Top v bottom clash headlines DStv Prem action

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Dec 03, 2020. 16:00

Round 6 of South Africa’s DStv Premiership season is headlined by a top-v-bottom clash which sees champions Mamelodi Sundowns head to the Harry Gwala Stadium to face struggling Maritzburg United on the evening of Saturday 5 December.

While the Brazilians have gotten the defence of their title off to a great start by claiming 13 points from a possible 15, the Team of Choice have lost all five matches thus far and sit at the very bottom of the standings.

The poor start to the campaign has cost manager Eric Tinkler his job, with Maritzburg bringing back Ernst Middendorp for his third spell at the club – though the German will no doubt be somewhat aggrieved at having to face Sundowns first up after the Tshwane club pipped his Kaizer Chiefs team to the title on the final day of last season!

“Maritzburg United is a club that I’ve known for a while. I first came in 2009 and now it’s 2020 which gives me a right to assess them. There’s development and progress on what we started in 2009,” said Middendorp of his return.

“Huge development and progress, players individually and the quality they brought in. Of course they lost some, it takes a little time to sort it out, but obviously we can’t talk about the past, we have a number of players here and we look at what’s next.”

Saturday also features an intriguing clash between unbeaten teams Golden Arrows and Swallows FC, while Cape Town City will likely prove a tough test for Orlando Pirates, as the Buccaneers look to keep up their momentum heading into next weekend’s MTN8 final.

Newcomers Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila have played some of the best football so far this season and will hope to impress again when they host AmaZulu, while Sunday sees TS Galaxy and Baroka FC play host to Stellenbosch FC and Chippa United respectively.

The round will be completed on Tuesday 8 December when Kaizer Chiefs (who will be in CAF Champions League action this weekend) host Black Leopards.

Wednesday’s scheduled clash between Bloemfontein Celtic (CAF Confederation Cup participants) and SuperSport United has been postponed due to the former playing in the MTN8 final against Pirates on December 12.

DStv Premiership Round 6 fixtures

Saturday 5 December

15:30: Golden Arrows v Swallows FC

15:30: Cape Town City v Orlando Pirates

18:00: Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila v AmaZulu

20:15: Maritzburg United v Mamelodi Sundowns

Sunday 6 December

15:30: TS Galaxy v Stellenbosch FC

15:30: Baroka FC v Chippa United

Tuesday 8 December

19:30: Kaizer Chiefs v Black Leopards

Wednesday 9 December

SuperSport United v Bloemfontein Celtic – Postponed due to Celtic’s involvement in the MTN8 final on December 12